Adjustable electrode support



Nov. 25, 1952 3, 2,619,609

ADJUSTABLE ELECTRODE SUFPQRT Filed Dec. 13, 1946 2 SI-1EETSSHEET 1 Fig.l.

INVENTOR. JOHN D.RE|D

BY. .WaM

Nov. 25, 1952 REID 2,619,609

ADJUSTABLE ELECTRODE SUPPORT Filed Dec. 15, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Fig.2.

mmvrox. JOHN 0. new

Patented Nov. 25, 1952 ADJUSTABLE ELECTRODE SUPPORT John D. Reid, OakRidge, Tenn., assignor to the United States of America as represented bythe United States Atomic Energy Commission Application December 13,1946, Serial No. 716,115

Claims. 1

My invention relates to supports, and more particularly to adjustablesupports for mounting electrodes so that they may be placed in a varietyof positions.

In the prior art of separating isotopes, it has been the practice toemploy electromagnetically operated equipment for the separation ofisotopes which provides a charge chamber for heating the charge tovaporize it, an ionization chamber for ionizing the vapors and having aslit or slits therein for egress of the ions, an accelerating electrodefor projecting the ions into a beam region where they may be acted uponby a magnetic field which causes them to travel in armate paths Whoseradii correspond to their respective masses, and receivers located at ornear the focal points of the ion beams to collect and neutralize theions of the various isotopes. One form of this equipment is known as theCalutron. Slits in the ionization chamber must be aligned with slits inthe accelerating electrode. The alignment of the slits is critical tothe successful operation of the system and this alignment must beaccomplished by movement of the electrode in both the horizontal andvertical planes as well as tilting it about a plurality of axes. Greatdifliculty has been encountered and considerable time is required inthis aligning operation. Heretofore, it has been the practice to employa large, intricate framework, cooled by a considerable length of hardsoldered water tubing. In addition, it has been difficult to obtain thedesired adjustments in such a construction.

Applicant with a knowledge of all these defects in and objections to theprior art has for an object of his invention the provision of anadjustable electrode support which will serve -to quickly and accuratelyalign the slits in the electrode with the slits of the ionizing chamber.

Applicant has as another object of his invention the provision of anadjustable electrode support which will permit adjustment along planesat right angles to each other and also provide rotational adjustment sothat the slits of the electrode may be very accurately aligned with theion slits of the ionizing chamber.

Applicant has as a further object of his invention the provision of anadjustable electrode support which may be quickly and easily assembledand which will offer rapid and accurate adjustment to facilitate properalignment of the electrade with other elements of the system.

Applicant has as a still further object of his invention the provisionof an adjustable support for mounting an electrode which will be sim- 2ple in construction and which departs from the bulky, complicated, andspace-consuming framework of the prior art.

Applicant has as a still further object of his invention the provisionof an adjustable electrode support which will permit rocking adjustmentof the electrode about a plurality of horizontal axes which aresubstantially at right angles to each other, in order to facilitatealignment of the slits of the electrode with the slits of the ionizingchamber.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings, and the novelfeatures thereof will be particularly pointedout in the annexed claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved electrodesupport. Fig. 2 is a fragmental sectional view of my improved electrodesupport taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig.

3 is a cross sectional View of my improved electrode support taken alongthe line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the samesupport taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I designates an insulator housingsupported from the inner walls of the Calutron housing by a tube andsupporting arms 35, 35 bridged by insulator 36, joined thereto by screws31, 31. Formed on the inner walls of the housing is a circumferentialpocket 5| for the circulation of cooling liquid fed thereto throughtubing 50. Disposed within the housing I and carried by studs I4 passingthrough the upper wall thereof and countersunk therein is an insulator2. The insulator is placed in the housing in order to protect it fromthe deteriorating effects of electron or ion bombardment or from theeffects of radiations. Insulator 2 is supported within the housing I bystuds [4 passing through openings in the upper wall of the casing andthreaded into the insulator. Mounted on the lower end of insulator 2 isa metal cap 3 having an upturned circumferential flange. Screws I5 passthrough the metal cap and, seat in threaded sockets in the insulator 2.'The cap 3 is cooled by circulation of liquid through the tubing 4extending about the cap 3 in a circumferential recess adjacent theperiphery. Screw threaded into a central socket and projectingdownwardly from the lower face of the cap 3 is a threaded pin 5.

Mounted on the cap 3 is a cylinder 6 terminating at its upper end in acircumferential flange. Passing through enlarged slots '52 in the flangeon cylindert and screw threaded in the cap 3 are attaching screws 16 formounting the cylinder 6 on the cap 3. Positioned in a plane atsubstantially right angles to the attaching screws 16 are adjustingscrews 53. These adjusting screws thread into the flange on cylinder 6and their ends bear against the cap 3. Extending transversely of thecylinder and carried by the flange are opposed adjusting screws ll, 1,!whose ends engage and bear against the projecting shank of pin 5 toprovide a horizontal adjustment. In this connection it will be notedthat the horizontal adjustment referred to above is assured by the factthat the attaching screws l8 pass through slots 52 which only permitrelative movement of the cylinder Sin a horizontal ,plane towards oraway from the ionizing chamber in response to adjustment of screws H, H.

Disposed within the cylinder 6 is a piston having transverse diagonalslots therethrough to provide slanting cam slots in the opposite facesof the piston. At substantially right angles-to the slots 38 1s a bore45 passing transversely through the piston is. Disposed within theborefiltland movable therein is a'block: 8. Passing through the block 8 inscrew ed engagement therewith is abolt it which also passesthroughenlarged openings inicylinder and is carried by a ring it disposed aboutcylindent and rotatably mounted in a circumferential groove therein.Passing through and carried by the block 3 at substantially right anglesto the bolt is is guide pin 5 whose ends rest loosely in the opposedslanting slots 38 of the cylinder 6. Projecting upwardly from the upperextremity of the piston i is a semi-circular or half cylindrical portionl. The -fiat inner face of the half cylinder 2* extends across thediameterof the'cylinder and is engaged spaced adjusting screws-3d, 32 iextending through spaced apart boresin the cylinder 5 and is-in screwthreaded engagement therewith.

The lower end of the piston l iscut to provide a flat end-face foroverlapping engagement with the electrode bracket or clamp ii havingscrews 2i passing therethrough for screw threaded engagement the pistoni. The lower-end l3-- of thebraclret or clamp isprovidedwith a socket22' for the reception the upper end or the electrode 52 and supports theelectrode insaid socket. The electrode 52, is preferably made of carbonmaterial a plurality of slits 5 3, ordinarily known G-siits, therein foralignment with slits in the ionizing chamber for the passage of ionstherethrough.

Adjustment in the horizontal plane towards and away from the slit intheionizing chamber is accomplished by loosening the attaching screwsl8. Tightening or one adjusting screw llandloosening of the otheradjusting screw ll bearingagainstpin 5 will serve to move cylinder iiwith respect to cap 3.

For adjustment about horizontal axes at substantial right angles to eachother one of the pair of diametrically opposite adjusting screwsciiis'loosened rand the other is tightened, or one of the diametricallyopposed attaching screws [5 is loosened and the other is tightened. Thishas the effect of tilting the accelerating electrode 2 with respect tothe ionization chamber in two planes at substantially right angles toeach other for alignment of the electrode slits with the ionizationchamber slits,

Torotate the electrode i2 about a vertical axis, one; of the screws3.9.is loosened and theother is, tightened, depending upon the desireddirec- 38 passing,

tion of rotation. The ends of the adjusting screws press upon the flatinner face of the half cylinder l and cause it to rotate clockwise orcounterclockwise depending upon which of the two adjusting screws istightened for this purpose. This provides angular adjustment of theelectrode slits with respect to the slits in the ionization chamber.Limited adjustment is permitted, due to theiarge openings. in thecylinder 6 which permits rotation of the piston 7, block it and bolt itwith respect thereto. This movement is limited by the size of theopenings in the cylinder through which the bolt it, carried by piston1', passes. The bolt shanl: engages the walls of the openings when thepiston is rotated with respect to the cylinder to provide a stop attheextrei'ni'ties or" the movement.

To raise'and lower the electrode ii, the bolt i3 is' rotated. Thiscauses the block 8, in screw threaded engagement therewith, to move backandforth, depending upon the direction of rotation. ofthe bolt. Movementof block 8 transversely of the piston l in bore "53 moves the pin 5)carried by it, transversely of the piston and slanting slots 38 causingthe piston l to be raised or lowered-with respect to cylinder The halfcylinder is suiiiciently and its adjustment screws 39 are so positionedas not to interfere with the raising and lowering of piston l. Theraising and lowering of piston s has the effect of'raising and loweringelectrode I2, and in turn slots Still the electrode, with respect to theslots in the ionizing chamber;

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An electrode support of th character described oomprising aninsulator, a cylinder suspended iroin said insulator, piston meanscarried by said cylinder for supporting an electrode, and means foraxially adjusting said piston with respectto said cylinder to positionsaid electrode.

2. An electrod support of the character described comprising. aninsulator, a cylindrical element suspended from the insulator inadjusted relation thereto, an inner element supported by said cylinderin telescopic relation thereto for positioning an electrode, and meansfor raising and loweringsaid inner element in said cylinder.

3. An electrode support of the character described comprising aninsulator, a cylindrical element suspended from the insulator inadjusted relation thereto, means telescoped within said cylindricalelement for supporting and positioning an electrode, means bridging thewalls of said cylindrical element for raising and lowerin saidsupporting and positioningmeans, and means for rotating'said positioningmeans to aline the electrode, withother associated equipment.

4. an eiectrodesupport of the character described comprising aninsulator,. a cylindrical element, diametrically opposed sets ofadjusting screws for suspending said cylindrical element from saidinsulator in adjusted relation thereto, and means adjustably supportedby said cylindrical element for positioning an electrode.

5. An electrode support of the character dec ibed comprising aninsulator, a cylinder suspended from said insulator in adjusted relationtheerto, a piston element telescoped within said cylinder for supportingan electrode in position, means carried. by the cylinder and extendingthrough the piston for raising and lowering it, and additional meanscarried bythe cylinder for engagingthe'piston to rotate it.

6. An electrode support of the character. described-comprising aninsulator, a cylinder suspended from said insulator inadjusted-relation, a piston telescoped within the cylinder forpositioning an electrode and cam means carried by the cylinder forengagement with the walls of the piston to raise and lower it.

'7. An electrode support of the character described comprising aninsulator, a cylinder suspended from said insulator in adjusted relationthereto, a piston telescoped within the cylinder for positioning anelectrode, said piston having an extension thereon, and means carried bythe cylinder for engaging said extension for rotating said piston withrespect thereto.

8. An electrode support of the character described comprising aninsulator, a cylinder suspended from said insulator in adjusted relationthereto, a piston telescoped within the cylinder for supporting anelectrode in adjusted position, diagonal cam slots in said piston, andmeans passing transversely through said piston and engageable with thewalls of the cam slots for raising and lowering said piston.

9. An electrode support of the character described comprising aninsulator, a cylinder suspended from said insulator, a shank projectinginto said cylinder from said insulator, adjustable means carried by saidcylinder and engageable with said shank for displacing said cylinderwith respect to said insulator, and piston means car ried by saidcylinder for supporting an electrode in adjusted relation.

10. An electrode support of the character described comprising ahousing, an insulator disposed Within said housing, a cylinder suspendedfrom said insulator, adjusting screws carried by the cylinder forrocking it, a shank projecting from said cylinder, adjusting meanscarried by the cylinder and engageable the shank for displacing thecylinder, a piston telescoped within the cylinder for suspending anelectrode in adjusted position, cam means for raising and lowering thepiston, and additional means carried by the cylinder and engagable withthe piston for rotating it, whereby to place th electrode in a varietyof different positions.

JOHN D. REID.

REFERENCES CKTEE) The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,132,170 Langsner Oct. 4, 19382,336,10 Laube et al. Dec. 7, 1943

